The Cortex FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What, Browncoats ask questions? OK, here’s some answers from the Cortex.
What is the Browncoat Ball?
The Browncoat Ball is a weekend-long gathering for fans of Firefly and Serenity, featuring a banquet dinner and fancy dress ball on Saturday night inspired by the ball in the episode “Shindig.” We don’t have featured guests like a science fiction convention does – it’s just us fans! Which is not to say famous folks aren’t invited. They just have to buy a ticket like everyone else.
How many people usually attend the Ball?
It’s a small event, averaging 100-120 attendees each year. The 2014 Browncoat Ball in Greenville can accommodate up to 150 people. We aren’t guaranteeing any tickets will be available at the door. So buy your tickets early and often.
How do people dress?
During the daytime people dress casually, often in Firefly T-shirts, Hawaiian shirts, Jayne hats, etc. On Friday night we’ll have a Dinner Luau with Hula dancers. People are encouraged to dress up as there favorite character from the ‘Verse, or someone you might meet there. However, costumes will not be required. During the day on Saturday you should dress appropriately for the Cunning Adventures you have chosen. Wear good shoes and light clothing.
For the Ball itself on Saturday night, people generally dress up in formal evening wear, ideally period themed. The most basic template for the Ball is the Firefly episode “Shindig”. A quick re-viewing of that episode should give you an idea of the Victorian era formal wear that most people will be emulating. However, there’s no need to stop there. Firefly is a fantastically rich mix of the past and the future, opening up any number of styles for you to make your own. Oriental or a companion type dress is always fun for the Ball. The only rule is to keep it classy and try to make sure that it is plausibly somewhere within the Firefly Universe. Some folks wear modern clothes, some go for historical costume, others bring Asian-influenced dress, and some arrive in ‘Verse-inspired clothing (Zoe’s slinky dress, anyone?). You might want to look at these sample photos from previous years to see what people wore:
Chicago 2004 • San Francisco 2006 • Philadelphia 2007 • Austin 2008 • Portland 2009 • Charlotte 2010 • Providence 2011 • Albuquerque 2012 • Phoenix 2013
What is the weather going to be like?
October in Greenville averages a pleasant 72 degrees (F). We recommend bringing a light jacket for the evenings as the average overnight low temperature is 50 degrees (F).
What are my food options?
(Will update soon – we will have options for common food allergies.)
Why does it cost so much?
The Browncoat Ball is actually an amazing value. The Browncoat Ball rules for the host city are that every dollar of the ticket price is to go toward the venue, food, and entertainment for the attendees. The Browncoat Ball is also not-for profit (by design) and any excess revenue will be donated as seed money to the hosts of next year’s Browncoat Ball.
Can I bring my kids?
The Browncoat Ball weekend is an event for adults. The standing rule for the Ball has been that children were simply not allowed. Parents should understand that there will be no programming tailored to children. The weekend events, including the actual Ball, are planned with grown ups in mind. This year in particular, please understand that the Murder Mystery theme involves adult-oriented content. Well-behaved, mature, teenagers age 16 or older should be fine, but must be accompanied by a parent at all times.
Do you need any help?
Always. If you wish to do any volunteering for the 2014 BCB, please use this link: Contact Us.
How do I get my ticket?
Simple. Go to our tickets page and order as many as you want.